9 months ago
India to Expand HPV Vaccination to Include Boys
India is going to give HPV vaccines to boys too, not just girls.
This is because HPV can affect anyone, not just women, and cause different types of cancer.
Many people in India have HPV, so it's important to vaccinate everyone to stop it from spreading.
India is preparing for a nationwide rollout of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
Initially targeted at girls aged 9-14, the vaccine will now include boys
HPV affects people of all genders, causing various cancers and genital warts
India's high HPV prevalence and associated cancers among men necessitate inclusive vaccination
Expanding vaccination to boys can reduce overall transmission and protect all genders
- Who
- The Indian government and health ministry
- What
- Expanding HPV vaccination to include boys
- Where
- Nationwide in India
- When
- Following the national rollout of the vaccine
- Why
- To reduce HPV-related cancers and genital warts among all genders
Gender-inclusive vaccination advocates
Gender-exclusive vaccination advocates
Inclusive vaccination
Gender-inclusive vaccination advocates
Reduces overall transmission and protects all genders
Gender-exclusive vaccination advocates
May perpetuate gender stereotypes and limit secondary prevention efforts to women
Vaccine cost and accessibility
Gender-inclusive vaccination advocates
Out of reach for most Indians in the private sector
Gender-exclusive vaccination advocates
Should be included in the universal immunisation programme to make it affordable
Key facts
- Virus
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Cancers caused by HPV
- Cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers
- Lifetime HPV infection rate
- Nearly 85% of women and 91% of men in the US
- HPV-associated cancer cases in India (2025 projection)
- Nearly 25,000 among men and nearly 1 lakh among women
- HPV vaccine cost in India
- Rs 2,000 - Rs 11,000 per dose
Quotes
Shreya Eliza Sunny
Research Associate at the Centre for Health Equity, Law & Policy, ILS Pune
“The focus on vaccinating women is justified, given the disproportionate cervical cancer burden. But this framing perpetuates gender stereotypes and risks 'feminising HPV' as a women’s issue, reinforcing the idea women are solely responsible for sexual and reproductive health.”
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